HB 431 - AS INTRODUCED
2015 SESSION
15-0192
06/01
HOUSE BILL 431
AN ACT relative to the placement of all new elective electric transmission lines in New Hampshire.
SPONSORS: Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1; Rep. Theberge, Coos 3; Rep. Ford, Graf 3; Rep. Suzanne Smith, Graf 8; Rep. Fothergill, Coos 1; Rep. Chandler, Carr 1; Rep. Duarte, Rock 2; Rep. Rideout, Coos 7; Sen. Forrester, Dist 2; Sen. Cataldo, Dist 6; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
This bill makes recommendations for the siting of certain transmission lines.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
15-0192
06/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT relative to the placement of all new elective electric transmission lines in New Hampshire.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Criteria for Approving Transmission Lines for Certificates. Amend RSA 162-H by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
162-H:2-a Criteria for Approving Transmission Lines for Certificates. In determining that a transmission line as described in RSA 162-H:2, VII(d) and (e) meets the criteria for a certificate under this chapter, the committee shall take into consideration the following:
I. Use of existing public rights of way, or, when unavailable, of private rights of way shall be the preferred, but not required, option for locating all new elective electric transmission lines.
II. Burial of electric transmission lines shall be the preferred, but not required, option for all elective electric transmission lines with supports over 50 feet.
III. The committee may presume that any line not required for system reliability and not proposed to be substantially buried will have an unreasonably adverse effect on aesthetics. The applicant may, by a preponderance of the evidence, demonstrate that an above-ground line should be approved due to particular circumstances, including but not limited to, engineering feasibility, adverse environmental impact, substantially disproportionate cost factors, and lack of negative impact for the route involved.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.